Stacker-loader



"J. J. SPAETH 7 2,367,150

STACKER-LOADERA Jan." 9, 1945.

Filed May 15, 1944. 5 Shets-Sheet l Jan. 9, 1945. J. J. SPAETH STACKER-LOADER Filed May 15,, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3- mum \mmm 21 m v I A vaeiiz 'from the front of the sweep.

Patented Jan. 9, 1945 smokers-manna John J. Spaetl i, Salim, Kaila, assignor to The Wyatt Manufacturing 00., Inc.,' Salina, Kans.

Application May 15, 1944, Serial No. 535,691

12 Claims. I -(Cl. 214-140) This invention relates to stacker attachments for tractors, and is an improvement over the construction embodied, in Patent No. 2,228,796, is-

sued January 14, 1941, for Stacker.

' An object of this invention is to provide an improved latching mechanism for latching the sweep, the latching mechanism automatically moving to latched position when the sweep has 7 been emptied.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simplified latching mechanism which will firmly hold the loaded sweep and which can be easily released.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a sweep of this kind an improved wheeled supporting frame wherein the wheels are spaced apart a distance less than the width of the sweep,

so that the wheels will not crush or pack down the material outside of the ends of the sweep.

. A further object of this invention is to provide in a latching mechanism of this kind, a cushion- 8 means for cushioning the movement of the sweep to discharging position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view,

the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

' In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several' views, I

Figure 1 is adetailed side elevation, partly broken away, of a stacker-loader constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the forward end of the device.

Figure 3 is a detailed side elevation, partly broken away, of the sweep release and holding mechanism. I

Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken on the lines 4-4 of Fi ures-3 and 5.

Figure 5 is a. fragmentary vertical section-o1 the line 3-3 of Fi ure 4.

' Fl8-'l-lle6 is a plan view of the mountingplate for the release mechanism.

Figure '1 is a fragmentary. sectional view taken on the line 11'of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a sectional. view taken on the line H of Figure 4.

Figure 91s a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line-93'of Figure Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on theline III-ill of either Figure 4 or 7, and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view to braced inan upright right-angular position by the sweep release means, taken substantially on p Referring to the drawings, the numeral [5 designates generally a wheeled frame which is constructed similar to the frame shown in Patent No. 2,228,796, and comprise a'lower forwardly convergent frame l6 having extending upwardly therefrom upwardly convergent supporting members l1 and Hi. The frame ii, at the forward end thereof, has secured thereto an axle 19 having wheels 20 mounted on the opposite ends thereof.

The frame l5 also includes a vertical supporting bar 21 secured between the apex of the frame members I1 and I8, and the-lower frame structure it. i

The frame I5 is adapted to be secured to the forward end of a tractor T by means of a hitch Q or attaching plate, generally designated as 22. The frame l5 has rockably mounted at the apex of the upwardly convergent bars I1 and It a swinging sweep frame structure 23. The swinging frame structure 23 includes a normally horizontal base bar 24 and a pair 'of upwardly convergent bars 25 and 26. The swinging frame 23 is rockably mounted as at 21 on a pivot member carried by the upper ends of the supporting bars 11 and I8. In practice, there are two of the bars" 26, two'bars 25, and two bars 24. The bar 26 at its forward end is provided with an arcuate upturned extension 28, on which the rear lower portion of a sweep 29 is pivotally mounted.

The sweep 29 is constructed similar to the sweep shown in Patent No. 2,228,796, with the following exceptions. The sweep 29 includes a plurality of parallel spaced-apart tines 30 which are secured to a transversely extending bar 31 and a second transversely extending bar 32. A rearupright wall 33 extends from the rear of the tines 30 and includes a lower bar 34, n upper bar 35, and a pair of intermediate bars 36 and 31. The horizontal bars 35. 36, and 31, are connected together by means ofa plurality of uprights 38, and preferably the lower intermediate bar 31 is shorter in length than-"the upper intermediate bar 36 so as to thereby provide a space 39 within which the forward portion of one of the wheel 20 is adap ed to engage. shorter in length'than the bars 35 and 36 so as to provide ample space for engagement of the wheel "within the rear portion of the wall 33 at the opposite ends thereof. In this manner, the sweep 29 will engage a. widerarea than the distance between the two wheels 20 so that the latter will not pack or run over any of the material which is lying on the ground, and which has not yet been engaged by the sweep 29. The rear wall 33 is The lower bar 34 is also means of a plurality of bracing bars 48 which are connected at their upper ends to the upperrear wall bar 35 and at the lower ends are connected to the forward transverse bar 3| of the sweep. The rear of the sweep 29 is constantly urged to rock upwardly by means of a pair of flexible members 4| which are connected at one end to the rear portion'of the sweep 29 and have secured to the opposite ends thereof a sliding bar 42 which slidingly eng es through a guide 43 carried by the bar 26. A spring 44 is loosely disposed about the rod 42, bearing at one end against the guide 43 and at the opposite end against a nut 45 which is threaded on the upper end of the rod 42.

The swinging frame 23 has secured to the upper end thereof a pair of upwardly convergent bars 46 and 41 and the bar 46 is formed with an extentwo bars 46 and 41. An angularly disposed bar 49 is secured to the upper end of the extension 48.

The bar 49 has secured to the rear end thereof one end of an elongated link or rod 58, and the other end of the link or rod 58 is attached to a cable at point 5|. The cable or flexible sweep ele-' vating member 52 engages a pulley 53 carried by the rear ends of the bars 24 and 25. The elevating member 52 is adapted to be wound about a winding drum54 which is loosely mounted on the axle for the wheels 28. This elevating structure is similar to that shown in Patent 2,228,796, and includes a ratchet wheel 55 which is fixed to the drum 54 and includes one element 560i a clutch. The other element 51 of the clutch'is slidable on the axle I9 and is moved into clutching or declutching position by means of a fork 'lever .58. The fork lever 58 is operated by means of alink 59 which has securedthereto an elongated operating bar 68 extending rearwardly from the front end of the frame I5 and terminating in a universally coupled operating member 6| slidable in a mounting 62 carried by the top of the tractor T. A pawl 63 which is rockably mounted on a pivot 64 carried by the frame I5 is adapted to engage the ratchet wheel, 55 so as to hold the wheel 55 and the drum 54 against rotation in a direction to permit unwinding of the cabl 52 from the drum 54.

The sweep 29 is normally held in a substantially horizontal position during the upward" swinging of the frame 23 by means of a pair of flexible members 65 and 65a, which are connected at their forward ends to hooks or attaching. elements 66 carried by the rear wall 33 of the'sweep. The flexible members 65 and 65a are trained over pulleysor sheaves 61, carried bythe bar 49 and an opening 82 for receiving a securing bolt and saucer washer 83 carried by the forwardly extending arm 84 of the tractor. A nut 85 is threaded on to the bolt 83 so as to firmly hold the plate 18 to the tractor. Preferably, the arm is formed with a dome-shaped head 86 engaging in the cup-shaped bearing 8| so that the plate 18 may pivot in a horizontal plane.

The plate 18 is also formed with a pair of forwardly divergent bracing webs 81 which extend forwardly from the ears 11 and a second pair of ears 88 are interposed between the rear ends of the webs 81 and the forward ends of the ears 11. The plate or bar 18 has secured ,to the center thereof between the elongated rods, an eye 89 with which one end of a flexible member 98 is connected. The flexible member 98 is trained over a pulley 9| which is rotatably mounted between the ears 88 and is mounted on a shaft 92 carried by the ears 88. The flexible member 98 is extended forwardly from the pulley 9| and has secured to the forward end thereof one end of a spring 93. The opposite end of the spring 93 is secured to an eye 94 which is carried by a transverse bar 95 secured in the frame I5. The spring l 93 constitutes a means for returning the sweep 29 to a loading or substantially horizontal position when the sweep is empty, and also provides a means for returning the locking lever which holds the sweep when loaded in horizontal position. A releasing lever generally designated as 96, is rockably mounted on a pivot member 91 supported from the plate 18' and the lever 96 includes an upper bar 98 which is formed at its lower end with a pair of spaced apartparallel arms 99. The arms 99 have securedto inner sides thereof a pair of plates I88 and a roller I8I mounted on a shaft I82is disposed between the two plates I88; The

- plates I88 are formed with a notch or cut-out I83 so that the bar 18 may be received in this cut-out and the roller |8| engaged on the upper side of the plate or bar 18. The lever 96 is adapted to be returned to its forward locking position by means 12 and 12a. The rods 68 and 68a slidably engage through openings 13 and 13a formed in the plates 12 and 12a respectively, and-a pair of cushioning springs 14 and 14a are loosely mounted about the rods 1| and 1Ia between the plate 18 and .the

. plates 12 and 12a. The rod H at its lower end is provided with an eye 15, and the rod 1 Ia is proof a lever return spring I84 which is connected at one end to the lever 96 and at the other end to an eye I carried by the upper side of the plate 18 between the webs 81. The upper end of the releasing lever 96 has connected thereto a flexible releasing cord I86 which may be extended rearwardly tothe rear of the tractor T.

In the use and operation of this invention, when it is desired to pick up a load on the sweep 29, the sweep will be in the lowered position; the lowering of the sweep being accomplished by engagingthe clutch element 51 and release of the pawl 63 from the ratchet 55 and moving'machine backwards. When the sweep is in its loweredposition, pawl 63 is returned to ratchet engaging position by gravity or other suitable means. When the sweep has been loaded by forward movement of the tractor and the frame structure I 5, the sweep may be elevated by moving clutch element 51 into engagement with clutch element 56. As the swinging frame 23 is rocked upwardly at its for ward end, 'bar 49 will move along the cables 65 and 65a so as to thereby maintain th sweep 29 in substantially horizontal loaded position. At this time, releasing and locking lever 96 will be in its forward'position shown in Figures 3 and 5. When the loaded sweep has been elevated to the desired position, and it is desired to discharge the material fromthe sweep, lever 96 may be pulled rearwardly by pull on cord I06. Roller HH will then be disengaged from plate!!! and plate ID will then be pulled upwardly by upward movement of rods 68 and 68a. Springs I4 and 14a will travel upwardly with plate 70 and'will engage plates 12 andv 120. so as to cushion the final downward swinging of the sweep 29. The springs 14 and 140. will also provide a cushioning means for taking up jars or impacts which would otherwise be incurred by the rods H and -'l I aand the plate I8.

As plate 10 moves upwardly, spring 93 will be tensioned by upward movement of cable 90 which travels over pulley 91. .After the sweep has been emptied, spring 93.will retum plate 10 to its lowermost position and as spring HM normally maintains lever 96 in its forward position, plate 10 will ride over the cam surface I01 of plates I until plate engages in the-notch 1 03 and beneath roller i0l. At this time, the sweep will be in the normal horizontal position and will be locked in this .position until lever 96 is again pulled rearwardly to released position.

What is claimed is: 1. In a stacker-loader including a wheeled frame, a sweep at the forward end of the frame,

and a vertically swinging support mounting said I sweep for movement to raised and lowered positions; releasable latching means for holding said sweep in horizontal loading 'position, said means comprising a pivoted latching lever carried by said frame, a pair of slide bars, means pivotally connecting the lower end of one bar to said frame, means connecting the opposite end of the other bar to said sweep, 'means plates each fixed to .one bar and formed with an opening slibably receiving the other bar and mounting .the last' mentioned bar for .sliding movement vertically along. the pivoted bar, and a keeper carried by said lever and engageable with the plate of the slidable bar for releasably holding said slidable bar against upward movement relative to. the

pivoted bar.

2.'In a stacker-loader as set forth in claim 1- including tensionable means connected to said other bar-for returning the latter to latched position.

3. In a stacker-loader formed of a wheeled' frame and an elevating sweep; latching means for holding said sweep in loading position, said means comprising a pair. of cables connected at one end thereof to said sweep, a pair of elongated rods connected at one end thereof to said cables, a second pair of rods connected at one end thereof to said frame, a plate slidable on said second pair'of rods and fixedly secured to the opposite ends of said first pair of rods, a latching lever pivotally carried by said frame and engfl-Eeable between said pairs of rods, and a keeper carried by said lever engageable with said-plate for re-v leasably holding the latter in a lowermost sweep loading position. v

4. In a stacker-loader. as set forth in claim 3 including a pair of cushioning springs carried by said second pair of rods and engageable with said plate to cushion the upward movement thereof.

5. In a stacker-loader as set forth in claim 3 including tensionable means connected between said frame and said plate for returning the latter to a lowermost latching position.

6. In a stacker-loader as set forth in claim 3 including a spring connected at one end to said frame, a pulley rotatably carried by said frame between the lower ends of said second pair of rods, and a flexible member connected at one'end to the opposite end of said spring and connected at the opposite end thereof to said plate, said flexible member trained under said pulley and carried by said mounting and pivotally mounted. for swinging vertically to raised and lowered positions; a plate carried by said frame and having I upstanding transversely spaced ears, a shaft carried by said ears, rods extending vertically and having their lower ends connected with and pivotally mounted-by said shaft, slidable rods extending longitudinally of the pivoted rods and projecting upwardly above the same, ca.bles connecting upper ends of said slidable rods with said sweep, a plate carried by lower ends of said slidable rods and slidable therewith along said pivoted rods, abutment means carried by upper ends of the pivoted rods and engaging the slidable rods to guide and limit upward movement of the slidable rods, a lever pivoted to said ears, and a keeper carried by said lever for engaging over said plate and releasablysecuring the slidable rods against upward movement.

\ 9. The structure of claim 8 wherein the keeper consists of side plates carried by said lever and projecting from opposite sides thereof towards said rods and formed with recesses for receiving the plate carried by lower ends of the slidable rods, and a roller rotatably mounted between said side plates for engaging over the plate of the slidable rods and directing movement thereof into said recesses to hold the slidable rods in the lowered position.

iii/The structure ofclaim 8 and a pulleyrotatably supported by said shaft between the ears,

a cable trained about said pulley and having one I end connected to the plate of the slidable rods, and aspring connected at one end to the frame and at its other end to the cable and exerting pull upon the cable to yieldably resist upward movement of the slidable rods.

11. The structure of claim .8 and means for exerting downward pull upon the plate of the slidable rods and yieldaibly resisting upward movement of the slidable rods.

I 12. The structure of claim 8 and springs about the pivoted rods resting upon the plate of the slidable rod and shiftable upwardly therewith for engagement with the abutments at upper ends of 1 l f the pivoted rods to check-upward movement of the slidable rods.

.iorm J. SPAETH. 

